At approximately 11 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders received a report from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi that a T-34 training aircraft spotted an overturned sailing vessel. Sector watchstanders diverted a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, which located the sailboat and a person swimming nearby. The man had flipped his sailboat and was unable to right it.

The Coast Guard helicopter crew lowered a basket into the water, hoisted the man and brought him safely back to NAS Corpus Christi to an awaiting EMS unit.

An aircrew from Air Station Corpus Christi engage in conversation with the 46-year-old man, who was hoisted from Corpus Christi Bay Oct. 30, after his sailboat overturned. U.S Coast Guard photograph.

“I happened to look down while we were in a turn over the bay and noticed the overturned sailing vessel,” said Lt. Dylan Booher, a Navy instructor pilot flying the T-34. I couldn’t see anyone in the boat or in the water, but thought it looked unusual so I called it in to Navy Tower.”

“It’s fortunate we were able to get to the survivor quickly as he was not wearing a life jacket which could have quickly turned a bad situation into a worse one,” said Lt. Terry Herdliska, the pilot of the rescue helicopter. “No one goes into the water expecting to be put in a life or death situation, but it’s always best to be prepared. A person’s chance of survival is exponentially increased when they are wearing a floatation device.”